Christmas Celebrations

So our first Christmas in Ojochal - away from family, but certainly not alone or absent friends!!

Christmas eve we were graciously invited to Bruce and Barb's for a traditional dinner (Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, broccoli, peas, gravy) followed by chocolate treats, homemade candy cane ice cream, and homemade shortbread of various types (seems everyone brought some - and all were delicious).

It was an all Canadian celebration - Bruce and Barb, Lisle and I, Dwight and Wendy, Gary and Kim, Steve and Laurie - good wine followed by good food and covered end to end with great conversation, fun and friendship.  Late in the eve, Wilson (the groundskeeper for the phase and weekend security) stuck his head around the corner of the house - he was on his way to the guardhouse.  He was quickly welcomed to the table provided ice cream and cold beer and wishes of Feliz Navidad from all!

Christmas day dawned - well not exactly - at 6:00 am it was mostly cloudy with the hope of sunshine.  I slipped from bed and ran down the stairs, and there it was - proof that Santa can find you wherever you are!

And guess what!?  If you are really good, Santa will actually make you pancakes for Christmas breakfast!!

After Breakfast - to the beach - arrived just after 10:00 am - sunny, hot and humid - about 30 people from the community on this quiet beach - some beer, some munchies, lots of laughter, fun in the surf, conversation under the umbrella - - so many mice people and friends (new and old) - All in all lots of Christmas spirit, just with a tropical flavour!

Home at 2:00 - had to leave the beach before high tide or the access road floods - swim in the pool and calls home for season's greeting and then off to dinner!

Keith and Karen invited Lisle and I to join in their Christmas feast, along with their daughter Liz, her friend Eric and Jan & Sonya.  Cocktails and chatter led to a Christmas sunset.

The kitchen began to bustle as the final preparations were tackled - Turkey, stuffing, dressing, mashed potatoes, squash, broccoli, corn and gravy - all done to perfection by Karen and her band of helpers.

All followed by Pineapple tart and shortbread - more wine and more conversation! 

Even the sun hung around til all was done!

Very hard to find a better way to spend Christmas, or more welcoming friends than these!

Quite the eventful day - so much so that some of us can't manage ourselves off the couch this morning!

I wonder if there is a Boxing Day sale at the beach!?